Over 60 killed in Abuja-Kaduna train attack – Tinubu

The National leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, has said that obey 60 passengers were killed in the terrorists attack on Abuja Kaduna train attack on Monday night.

The former Lagos State Governor spoke ar the Eko Hotel venue of colloquium organised to mark his 70th birthday where he announced the cancellation of the event because of the National tragedy.

The obviously saddened political leader commiserated with the families which lost their loved ones in the bloody attack.

Terrorists had immobilized the train by blowing up the rail track after which they attacked the train which had 940 passengers on board.

He said, “Today is supposed to be a very joyful 70th birthday of mine living on earth. I give thanks to God Almighty for being able to survive to this age.

“I have just been informed of a very sad incident in our country, very sad indeed, that over 60 people and many more were killed and bombed on a train between Kaduna and Abuja just last night. That is a very serious incident about the security of lives in this country and it calls for a very serious sober reflection.

“For me to be here celebrating, dancing and enjoying myself doesn’t show enough concern of a statesman and a senior citizen of this country.

“This event should not be holding. I have consulted with the people you see around me here and they’ve agreed with me and being a very highly committed democrat, I have given myself to their suggestion that they agreed that this event be cancelled.”

Among those reported to have lost their lives in the unfortunate incident were the Secretary-General of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) of Nigeria, Barrister Musa-Lawal Ozigi his Kwara State Chairman of the TUC, Comrade Akinsola Akinwunmi, and a medical doctor, Dr.Chinelo Megafu.

It was gathered that the terrorists targeted the Business Class coach of the Abuja-Kaduna train while abducting a foreigner, a pregnant woman, and others

Eyewitness hinted that two NRC staff and five policemen were killed when the terrorists fired on the train.

Among other passengers on board are the former Deputy Governor of Zamfara State, Malam Ibrahim Wakkala, and one Muhammad Amin Mahmood, an aspirant in the just-concluded National Convention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Northwest Zonal Youth Leadership, among others.

“We lost our SG (Secretary-general) and the Kwara State Chairman,” a source in the TUC was quoted as saying.

“Barrister Musa-Lawal Ozigi is dead. He was among those who were attacked yesterday by bandits in Kaduna-Abuja railway.

“Ozigi, a barrister, was killed by the bandits during the attack. We just received the information”.

The Network gathered that the medical doctor, Dr.Chinelo Megafu was about to travel abroad after resigning from her work last Friday, and was on board to Kaduna for her final relocation before the incident occurred.

Megafu died from gunshot injuries she sustained from the terror attack.

It was gathered that before her death she announced on her Twitter that she was shot and asked for prayers.

“I’m in the train. I have been shot. Please pray for me.” She tweeted.

Reports said many passengers have been declared missing while others are receiving treatment at a community hospital since the train attack.

It was further learned that about 26 patients were rushed to St. Gerald’s Catholic Hospital in Kaduna, while eight persons were confirmed dead.

The Kaduna State government and its police Command are yet to confirm the number of casualties in the attack.

Eyewitness stated that mobile policemen attached to the train were overpowered by the terrorists in a gun battle, prompting the abduction of many of the passengers.

It was disclosed that those abducted were passengers on the first and second coaches.

The Network further learned that the terrorists used Improvised Explosive devices along the rail track and when the passenger train from Abuja to Kaduna got to that point, the bomb exploded twice, thereby causing the train to derail.

“About an hour later, soldiers were mobilized It was at that point those soldiers were mobilized to the area about an hour later, and they were able to disperse the bandits, who also escaped with some of the hostages”. An eyewitness said.

The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has in a statement on Tuesday, suspended services on the Abuja-Kaduna route following the attack.

The Managing Director/CEO of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, Mr. Fidel Okhiria, who confirmed the attack announced the suspension of services.